CHELMSFORD -- Selectmen candidates were mostly in agreement in a debate Thursday on topics like easing the tax burden on residents, keeping a flat tax rate for residential and commercial properties, and finding ways to regionalize services where it makes sense.

The five candidates, who will be fighting for two seats in the April 2 election, also generally supported an idea that's been studied for building solar panels on the former Swain Road landfill. The one question they didn't agree on was a proposal before Town Meeting on April 29 to make the Zoning Board of Appeals an elected board, instead of appointed by the town manager.

Only Roland Van Liew, who signed a petition urging the Town Meeting question, agreed with a question of whether to make the switch.

Taxes was the main theme of the debate, the third of four before the election.

When asked to name the two major issues in Chelmsford, each candidate mentioned wanting to lower taxes or the need to maintain a quality of life with keeping the budget affordable.

"It really will take a vision to balance taxes against trying to maintain the level of service" the town has offered in recent years, said Patrick Maloney, of the Permanent Building Committee. "The cost to the taxpayers is what we really need to focus on," he added, urging a reduction in the "escalation in cost to taxpayers" when major capital projects are completed.

Incumbent Matt Hanson said Chelmsford needs to maintain the quality of life while providing tax relief "where possible.

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"That's a difficult challenge but I think our town is very well run," he said.

Planning Board member Bob Joyce said more free cash that has been used to shore up the town's reserves should now be used for tax relief.

"It's all about the kids, that when they get older they can (afford) to live in Chelmsford," he said.

Janet Askenburg, the School Committee chairwoman, said the major issue is tax relief, mentioning her oversight of the school budget, which has outsourced some services and combined with other towns on things such as food services. She also said reducing commercial vacancies is important as a way to spur the local economy, create jobs and bring in more tax revenue.

Van Liew also mentioned maintaining quality of life, but also repeated a call he's made during the campaign for requiring written work orders on smaller-budget items and "better vetting of expenses so we can have lower costs to the taxpayer."

The forum, hosted at the police station and sponsored by the League of Women Voters, also included the first chance for two candidates for a Planning Board alternate seat to give their views on so-called 40B affordable-housing developments, economic development and how to improve traffic flow in town.

Incumbent Nancy Araway said the biggest challenge for the board is implementing recommendations in the town master plan that would affect the town center, Vinal Square and routes 110 and 129, among others.

Challenger Jeff Apostolakes called for encouraging restaurants and similar businesses on Route 129 so office workers wouldn't need to go to Billerica or Lowell for lunch or off-site gatherings.

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